Hot java: Photos released in naughty barista case

BY MICHELLE ESTEBAN, KOMO-TV

Published 10:00 pm, Thursday, January 7, 2010

EVERETT -- Surveillance photos taken at a local espresso stand captured baristas in the buff performing alleged sex acts.

During a recent sting, undercover police officers took 17 photos that allegedly captured the five baristas at the Grab 'N Go Espresso Stand serving up more than steamy lattes. KOMO News obtained the photos after arguing in court for their release.

Most of the photos are too explicit to show online, with one of the baristas allegedy exposing her crotch in a photo taken by police.

According to police reports, baristas posed naked for customer photos in exchange for $20. The baristas posed on the espresso stand counter, and even crouched in the window for anyone - even passing cars - to see.

Police were led to the stand after 40 citizen complaints poured in over the summer. Four especially graphic photos show baristas licking whipped creamed off of each other's private parts.

Undercover cops snapped pictures of baristas in pasties, thongs and revealing nighties. The five baristas have pleaded not guilty to prostitution charges.

In a recent interview, the stand's owner insisted that his girls "are good girls," and if they did anything wrong, they'd be fired.

Following the scandal at the Grab 'N Go, Snohomish County lawmakers made big changes, making anything more revealing than a bikini on a barista illegal at stands outside Everett city limits. The rule affects Grab 'N Go's sister stand on Highway 99, where the baristas were seen donning bikinis on Thursday.

At the Everett Grab 'N Go stand, the baristas were all sporting bikinis, and appeared to be serving up only lattes and no nudity.

The five charged baristas will have to answer to the surveillance photos in court next month.